Events – Ireland Japan Association

Hokkaido and the Coronavirus: Coping with the second wave | Online Webinar

11th May 2020/in Cultural/by ija

We hope you and your loved ones are all doing well and keeping safe. While the lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted in the country, it will take time while we all can go back to the lives we used to have. In the meanwhile, here at the IJA, we have thought of the ways to keep in touch with you during this crisis.

We are delighted to invite you all to online webinar ‘Hokkaido and the Coronavirus: Coping with the second wave’ with Brian Gaynor, Associate Professor at Muroran Institute of Technology, and Takahashi Sanae – an elementary school teacher in Noboribetsu.

Date: Tuesday, 19th May 2020
Time: 11 a.m.
Booking details: Webinar will take place on Zoom and login details will be sent to all registered participants via e-mail. Webinar is free of charge but registration is required by e-mail: info@ija.ie

The webinar will cover general situation in Hokkaido with special focus on education in public and at home, followed by Q&A session. The webinar will be moderated by Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson, and will be in English.

If you have questions that you would like to ask to our speakers, please send them to: info@ija.ie before the online event, alternatively, you will have the opportunity to ask it at the end of the webinar on 19th May.

We are looking forward to meet you on Zoom and hope this will be a nice way for us all to come together and stay in touch during these times.

COVID-19 | IJA Announcement

12th March 2020/in Business, Corporate, Cultural/by ija

The IJA is carefully monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 and would like to inform that at the moment all IJA events will take place virtually/online/via conference call. Please follow announcements on our website and social media. [updated on 01.07.2020]

We would like to ask that the public continue to follow hse.ie and gov.ie for accurate information regarding COVID-19, its symptoms and the steps the public can take to protect themselves.

IJA Council

Coronavirus COVID-19 | IJA Announcement

12th March 2020/in News/by ija

The IJA is carefully monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 and would like to inform that at the moment all IJA upcoming events in March are cancelled or will take place virtually/online/via conference call. [updated on 16.03.2020]

It is essential that any decisions regarding responses to COVID-19 are proportionate, necessary and based on specific public health advice. We will be following public health advice guidelines, will consult our event hosts/venues, and will make the decision about each upcoming event separately. Please follow announcements on our website and social media.

We would like to ask that the public continue to follow hse.ie and gov.ie for accurate information regarding COVID-19, its symptoms and the steps the public can take to protect themselves.

IJA Council

IJA Annual Dinner 2020

2nd December 2019/in Cultural/by ija

On behalf of the IJA Council, it is our pleasure to invite you to the 2020 IJA ANNUAL DINNER at one of the most beautiful and iconic venues – The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on Friday, 14th February 2020.

This evening is our largest and most enjoyable event of the year which we hope you, your friends and colleagues can attend. The IJA Annual Dinner is open to all IJA Members (as well as Non-Members who are interested in meeting our members and/or becoming a member – Contact IJA to become a member).

Date: Friday, 14th February 2020
Time: From 7.30 p.m.
Venue: The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2

GuestS of Honour:

H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland
Mr. Peter Sherrard, CEO of Olympic Council of Ireland

Grand Prize: 2 Return Flights to Japan sponsored by Finnair

Evening Programme:

Arrive to The Great Room of The Shelbourne Hotel by 7.30 p.m.
Sake Reception at 7.30 p.m. sharp
Dinner served in The Great Room from 8.15p.m.
Welcome words by Master of Ceremonies Mr. Raymond Hegarty
Speeches:
- Ms. Darina Slattery, IJA Chairperson
- Mr. Peter Sherrard, CEO of Olympic Federation of Ireland
- H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland
Prize Giving
Annual Dinner closes

Please see the IJA Annual Dinner 2020 Programme HERE!

Dress Code: Suits/Dress/Business (not black-tie)

Seating Arrangements:

Round Tables seating 8-10 people. Corporate Tables catered for.
* If you would like to be seated at a particular table and/or have any dietary requirements, email special requests to us before Monday, 3rd February 2020.

Corporate Sponsorship:
If you are a Corporate member, you have sponsorship opportunities available. To sponsor a prize, please send details of prize to info@ija.ie by Friday, 17th January 2020. Your company logo will be displayed on the night on large screens and inside guest programmes.

Tickets:
* IJA Members: €100 (per person)

* Non-Members: €130 (per person)
* Corporate Members (Table of 10): €1,200
Cancellations made after 3rd February 2020 are non-refundable.

HOW TO BOOK:

Book Direct: info@ija.ie | Tel: 01-6787008 (Persons in Charge: Darina or Carmel)

Online Tickets: *Closed Now*

RSVP/Booking Deadline: Monday, 3rd February 2020

B&B Special Offer at The Shelbourne Hotel:

Special rate: €259.00 (single occupancy) | €274.00 (double occupancy)

Rates include all taxes and Full Irish Buffet Breakfast.

Book by Friday, 17th January to avail of this special offer directly with hotel. To receive the booking link, please contact us: info@ija.ie

Official IJA Annual Dinner 2020 invitation can be downloaded here!

ILFDublin Writer In Residence Tomoka Shibasaki with Polly Barton

9th May 2019/in News/by ija

Ireland’s premier literary event – International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFDublin) – is taking place from 17th – 26th May, gathering the finest writers in the world to debate, provoke, delight and enthral.

This year’s festival has an amazing line-up with the very best of Irish and international talent for you to meet at the readings, discussions, debates, workshops, performances and screenings across various venues.

Among other amazing events, we would like to highlight event and discussion with Tomoka Shibasaki – Japanese writer in residence at ILFDublin 2019. From Osaka, Tomoka Shibasaki has won the Noma Literary New Face Prize and the Akutagawa Prize for ‘Spring Garden’, her first novel translated into English, which tells the story of Taro, a reclusive divorcee who is drawn into a strange relationship with the woman upstairs. The New York Times Book Review described ‘Spring Garden’ as, ‘Like a good meditation: quiet, surprising and deeply satisfying.’ Two of her works have been adapted for film.

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2019
Time: 6.15 p.m.
Venue: Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
Tickets: €8 – €10, available online here: https://ilfdublin.ticketsolve.com/shows/873602946

Tomoka Shibasaki will be in conversation with her translator, Polly Barton, recently shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Editions essay prize for ‘Fifty Sounds’, a record of linguistic and cultural assimilation in Japan, where she lived for seven years and became a literary translator. She was the recipient of the 2016 Kyoko Selden International Translation Prize.

Together they discuss their work and map out the territory of contemporary Japanese literature. Chaired by Martin Colthorpe, Programme Director, ILFDublin.

Presented with the support of the EU Japan Fest Japan Committee.

Full list of ILFDublin 2019 events are available here!

Prades Sextet treats IJA members and friends to a chamber music concert in Dublin

15th December 2017/in News/by ija

At the end of November, Ireland Japan Association (IJA) had the pleasure to invite and treat its members and friends to a special members-only event of chamber music performed by The Prades Sextet in a warm, intimate and acoustically excellent setting in Dublin city centre followed by reception.

Mrs. Mari Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland as well as representatives of the Embassy of Japan in Ireland attended event together with members of IJA and Japanese Business Association.

The guests were treated to a passionate musical performance by The Prades Sextet – a group of 6 young, talented world-class artists that met at the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, France 2016. Since their meeting, Mayu Konoye (20), Christopher Ellis (20), Johannes Gray (20), Takehiro Konoye (20), Ruña ‘t Hart (25) and Martin Moriarty (23) have enjoyed playing together as The Prades Sextet and in various ensembles. The members of the sextet come from Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands and The United States of America. Between them, the members of the sextet are currently studying music at conservatories in Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris.

The group performed:
* Johannes Brahms: String Sextet in B flat Major, Op. 18, No.1 (35’),
* Arnold Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) Op. 4 for String Sextet (30’),
* Japanese Popular Medley arranged by Hidetake and Hidemaro Konoye,
* Romance for Viola by Hidetake Konoye presented to Crown Prince of Japan on his wedding day.

IJA would like to thank Mr. Yasuyuki Ozeki, IJA Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Hiroaki Ozaki, Director of Ozaki Associates Ltd. and everybody who helped to organize this wonderful event. Big thanks goes also to Connect Ireland for hosting this event and Yamamori Restaurant for providing tasty treats for the event reception.